by Abiodun Oyewo
Nigeria is facing one of the most devastating security crises in its history. Banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, and other violent crimes have continued to threaten lives, undermine economic activities, and erode public confidence in government institutions. From the North-West to the North-Central and increasingly into parts of the South-West, communities are living under constant fear of attacks, abductions, and killings.
Thousands of innocent citizens have lost their lives, while many more have been displaced from their ancestral homes. Farmers are abandoning their farmlands, businesses are shutting down, and schools have become targets of criminal elements. Yet, despite the growing scale of the crisis, many Nigerians believe that the political class has not demonstrated the urgency and commitment required to confront this national emergency.
The growing menace of banditry is fueled by a combination of factors, including poverty, unemployment, weak border control, proliferation of small arms and light weapons, inadequate intelligence gathering, and poor governance. Criminal groups have exploited these vulnerabilities to establish operational bases in forests and remote communities, from where they launch attacks, kidnap citizens for ransom, rustle cattle, and terrorize entire regions.
While government officials often issue statements condemning attacks and expressing sympathy with victims, many citizens argue that the response has largely remained reactive rather than proactive. Communities continue to suffer repeated invasions, while security personnel on the frontlines frequently operate under difficult conditions.
Despite the enormous security challenges confronting the nation, the Red and Green Chambers have not done enough to directly improve the operational capacity of security personnel who put their lives on the line daily. Instead of concentrating significant resources on periodic palliative distributions during festive periods, lawmakers could champion practical and sustainable security interventions that would leave lasting impacts on their constituencies.
For example, funds expended on distributing thousands of bags of rice could be invested in security-support infrastructure such as motorcycles for rapid-response patrols, mini-buses popularly known as “Korope” for mobility operations, communication gadgets, surveillance equipment, and solar-powered streetlights in vulnerable communities. A well-lit community is less attractive to criminals, while mobility and communication remain critical factors in successful security operations.
The blood of security personnel and innocent citizens continues to be shed across the country. Every attack on a village, every ambush on security operatives, and every life lost to banditry should serve as a reminder that insecurity is not merely a statistic but a national tragedy requiring immediate and sustained action. The sacrifices of those defending the nation must be matched by corresponding commitment from political leaders through funding, legislation, and effective oversight.
A recent example that underscores the growing frustration of Nigerians is the tragic attack on schools in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. During the incident, dozens of pupils and teachers were abducted, including a child reportedly as young as two years old. Even more heartbreaking was the reported killing of a teacher, Mr. Michael Oyedokun, while families endured days of uncertainty and anguish.
The incident shocked many Nigerians and raised concerns about the spread of organized criminal activities into the South-West. What further heightened public concern was the perceived delay in the arrival of a high-level Federal Government delegation to the affected community. By the time officials visited, many citizens felt that valuable time had already been lost while victims and their families continued to suffer.
Perhaps even more disturbing was the perception that political activities continued across the country as though nothing had happened. Party meetings, consultations, and political calculations carried on while affected communities remained in mourning and anxiety. To many citizens, this created the impression that political interests often receive greater attention than the security and welfare of ordinary Nigerians.
Nigeria possesses numerous security agencies and community-based security outfits. These include the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Amotekun Corps across the South-West, Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), Forest Guards, Vigilante Groups, and Hisbah organizations operating in some Northern states.
Unfortunately, many of these agencies and outfits face significant operational limitations due to inadequate logistics, insufficient mobility assets, poor communication infrastructure, and limited access to modern equipment. In many communities, security operatives are willing and committed but lack the tools necessary to effectively combat increasingly sophisticated criminal networks.
If every member of the House of Representatives and other elected officials invested directly in security-support initiatives within their constituencies, the impact could be transformative. Strategic provision of motorcycles, patrol vehicles, communication equipment, solar-powered streetlights, operational support facilities, and emergency response resources would significantly strengthen grassroots security architecture.
The time has also come to fast-track the establishment of State Police and the implementation of the proposed Forest Guard initiative. Criminal elements have continued to exploit Nigeria’s vast forests and difficult terrains as operational bases. Strengthening local security structures and empowering communities to participate more effectively in intelligence gathering and security management could significantly reduce criminal activities.
If the National Assembly can demonstrate remarkable speed in passing electoral amendments and approving a new National Anthem Act, then security reforms that directly affect the survival of citizens deserve equal urgency. Nigerians want to see security matters treated as a national emergency and not merely as another item on the legislative agenda.
The Office of the National Security Adviser should also intensify efforts to ensure that frontline security personnel have access to modern tactical equipment, improved intelligence capabilities, surveillance technology, protective gear, mobility assets, and operational support systems. Criminal groups have evolved in tactics and capabilities; therefore, security agencies must be equipped to stay ahead of emerging threats.
Ultimately, governance must be measured not by political victories, public speeches, or ceremonial activities, but by the safety and well-being of the people. Citizens want to feel the direct impact of government through safer communities, faster emergency responses, better-equipped security agencies, and visible protection of lives and property.
Nigeria’s security challenges cannot be solved through rhetoric alone. The political class must move beyond expressions of sympathy and embrace decisive actions that restore peace, strengthen security institutions, and rebuild public confidence. The survival of communities, the protection of future generations, and the stability of the nation depend on it.
A secure nation remains the foundation upon which economic growth, social stability, national unity, and sustainable development can thrive.
> We shall all become History one day.
—Com. Abiodun Oyewo MNACSP
Security Analyst and Public Affairs Commentator
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